Sunday, 27 October 2024
by BD Banks
The Christmas creep is already upon us this October. Alongside Halloween costumes and candy, Christmas decorations and holiday gifts are making an entrance in more and more stores well before the traditional start to holiday shopping season.
Cruise lines like the late Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at Sea are even getting a jump on holiday discounts with early Black Friday cruise sales in October.
Related: Margaritaville at Sea offering new ship-to-resort experience
Across social media, people are already talking about decorating for Christmas. Some are ready to turn their home into a holiday wonderland as soon as the last trick-or-treater leaves their doorstep.
Some experts say decorating early for the holidays makes you happier, so if you’re in need a dose of holiday joy, have at it.
But even if you don’t start decking the halls at home on Nov. 1, you can treat yourself to a holly jolly time on a Disney cruise ship as early as Nov. 4.
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Image source: Disney Cruise Line
The Disney Wish will be the first ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet to deck the halls (and decks) and bring the holiday magic in 2024. Holiday-themed cruises will commence with a four-night Very Merrytime Bahamian cruise from Port Canaveral Nov. 4 – 8 on the Disney Wish.
Throughout November and December, the cruise line will offer Very Merrytime holiday sailings on four ships departing from three cruise ports. Passengers can enjoy holiday magic at sea on Bahamian and Caribbean cruises departing from Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale and Galveston.
Related: Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises add magical experiences
Very Merrytime holiday cruises deliver holiday cheer with onboard decorations and a variety of holiday-themed entertainment and activities that vary by ship and itinerary. Activities include a tree lighting ceremony in the atrium, a holiday party on the upper decks, and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus and Disney characters in their holiday attire. Passengers are encouraged to pack their most festive looks too.
On itineraries visiting the cruise line’s private island, Disney Castaway Cay, passengers can even experience festive island fun featuring “snow” flurries, a tropical Christmas tree and more.
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Disney Cruise Line will also kick off the holiday season on land as it sails the streets of New York City this Thanksgiving Day. The cruise line’s new “Magic Meets the Seas” float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 28 will celebrate the expansion of the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
The float will showcase the bows of eight ships – the five ships currently sailing in the fleet and the three set to debut this year and next – Disney Treasure, Disney Destiny, and Disney Adventure. The Disney Treasure, which sets sail on its maiden voyage on Dec. 21, will be the focal point of the float.
At the helm atop the magical float, Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse will be joined by Disney characters representing the experiences and spaces onboard the Disney Treasure, including Pixar Animation Studios’ “Coco” and Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Moana” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
Related: Disney cruisers just can’t wait for these new themed dinner shows
Parade viewers will get a taste of the cruise line’s magical entertainment at sea with a performance including songs from these favorite Disney films that closes with a confetti-filled finale set to the Disney Treasure’s anthem, “Live the Adventure.”
For its inaugural season, the Disney Treasure will sail a range of seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral. The ship will feature highly-anticipated experiences including the first theatrical dinner show themed to the Disney and Pixar film, “Coco,” a new “Disney The Tale of Moana” Broadway-style show, and the first Haunted Mansion-inspired bar.
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